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3D Printing 101: The Basics You Need To Know

A 3d printer with a floating 3D cube

3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is a process of creating a three-dimensional object from a digital file. The process starts with a 3D model. A software then slices the model into thin layers to produce the overall product layer by layer.


Types of 3D Printers


There are many different types of 3D printers available on the market that are capable of bringing products to life. Here are three basic types of 3D printers:


  1. Fused deposition modeling (FDM)

  2. Stereolithography (SLA)

  3. Selective laser sintering (SLS)

Materials for 3D Printing


There are a wide variety of materials that can be used for 3D printing depending on your needs from an engineering perspective. Three material types used for 3D printing:


  1. PLA

  2. ABS

  3. Metals


As 3D printing technology continues to develop, we can expect to see even more innovative and disruptive applications for this technology to achieve endless possibilities.


Own a 3D Printer? Unlock access to our online 3D CAD Library.


To learn more, check out our latest posts about 3D content.


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